Petunia plant named ‘USTUN29801’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘USTUN29801’, characterized by its outwardly spreading and low mounding plant habit; freely branching and vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; small dark violet-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USTUN29801’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USTUN29801’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hikone, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Petunia plants with compact plant habit, freely branching growth habit, early flowering, attractive small flowers and good summer performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 14, 2004 in Hikone, Shiga, Japan of Petunia×hybrida ‘MP20’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,857, as the female, or seed, parent with Petunia×hybrida ‘Bluette Blue’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jul. 17, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jul. 20, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USTUN29801’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USTUN29801’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading and low mounding plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching and vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Small dark violet-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the female parent, ‘MP20’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are not as creeping as plants of         ‘MP20’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘MP20’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘MP20’ differ in flower color         as plants of ‘MP20’ have lavender-colored flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the male parent, ‘Bluette Blue’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are not as mounding as plants of         ‘Bluette Blue’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Bluette Blue’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Bluette Blue’ have dark blue-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘Kakegawa S28’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,887. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of ‘Kakegawa S28’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were stronger than and not as         vigorous as plants of ‘Kakegawa S28’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Kakegawa S28’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Kakegawa S28’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Kakegawa S28’ had dark purple-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘Conviolet’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,510. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of ‘Conviolet’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were smaller than plants of         ‘Conviolet’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Conviolet’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Conviolet’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Conviolet’ had dark purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘USTUN29801’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USTUN29801’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 24° C., night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 8° C. and light levels ranged from 7,000 to 10,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and were eleven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘USTUN29801’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Petunia×hybrida ‘MP20’, disclosed             in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,857.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Petunia×hybrida ‘Bluette Blue’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 15 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Annual flowering plant; outwardly             spreading and low mounding plant habit; vigorous growth             habit; freely branching habit with about six to seven             primary lateral branches and numerous secondary lateral             branches per plant; pinching enhances development of lateral             branches; dense and bushy habit.         -   Plant height.—About 16 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 60 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 32 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Internode length: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent; viscid, glandular. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after             flowers develop; simple.         -   Length.—About 3.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; viscid.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; glandular. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single axillary salverform flowers;             flowers face mostly upward or outward; freely flowering             habit, about 55 flower buds and open flowers per lateral             branch.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long             flowering period, plants flower from early spring until             frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this             period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about             six weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to five days;             flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Sweet with a hint of vanilla.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 3.4 cm. Depth (height): About             3.2 cm. Tube length: About 2.6 cm. Throat diameter, distal             end: About 9 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 4 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to N187C.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About five petals fused in a             single whorl, funnelform. Petal lobe length (from throat):             About 1.8 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.7 cm. Petal lobe             shape: Roughly fan-shaped. Petal lobe apex: Acute or             slightly mucronate. Petal lobe margin: Entire. Petal lobe             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Pubescent; viscid. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 86A. When opening, lower surface: More grey than 79D.             Fully opened, upper surface: Brighter than 86A; venation,             close to N92B; color becomes closer to 83B to 83C with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 86B;             venation, close to N92A; color does not fade with             development. Flower throat: Close to 79B; venation, close to             N92B. Flower tube (outside): Close to 83A; venation, close             to N92A.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals             fused at base, star-shaped calyx. Length: About 1.6 cm.             Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute to             rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 45° to 60° from the stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 1.7 cm. Filament color: Close to 91C.             Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color:             Close to 90A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close             to 93B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 1.7 cm. Style length: About 1.4 cm. Style color: Close             to 147C. Stigma shape: Rounded anvil-shaped. Stigma color:             Close to N189B. Ovary color: Close to 146D.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and/or fruit production has not been             observed. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden and summer performance and have been observed to     tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to     about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘USTUN29801’ as illustrated and described. 